Aim To investigate the effects of anti-in-flammation and antioxidation of an amphiphilic curcu-min derivative (Curc-OEG)on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups:control group,model group,curcumin and Curc-OEG treatment group.All rats except those in control group were given subcuta-neous injection of CCl4 and olive oil mixture,twice a week for 8 weeks.After 4 weeks,rats of control and model group were trea-ted with normal saline intravenously,curcumin group were ad-ministered with curcumin 400 mg.kg -1 .d -1 by gavage and Curc-OEG group were treated with Curc-OEG 1 00 mg.kg -1 .d -1 intra-venously respectively.After 4 weeks treatment,the serum levels of ALT and AST were tested.HE and Sirus staining were used to evaluate the extent of liver inflammation and fibrosis.The mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines of NF-kB,IL-1 β, IL-6,TNF-α,COX-2 were observed with Real Time PCR.The level of MOD,SOD and GSH in liver of rats were quantified. Results The levels of ALT in control,model,curcumin and Curc-OEG group was (31 .7 ±8.7)U·L -1 ,(383.0 ±75.6) U·L -1 ,(406.3 ±204.7)U·L -1 ,(1 07.0 ±73.7)U·L -1 respectively;that of AST was (1 37.7 ±32.7)U·L -1 ,(585.3 ±36.7)U·L -1 ,(485.0 ±246.5)U·L -1 ,(202.7 ±56.0) U·L -1 respectively,Curc-OEG possessed more hepatoprotective effects than that of curcumin.Liver pathology showed Curc-OEG treatment could significantly alleviate steatosis,reduce inflamma-tion and apparently suppress hepatic fibrogenesis by reducing the thickness of bridging fibrotic septa.Compared with curcumin, Curc-OEG down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-kB,IL-1 β,IL-6,TNF-α,COX-2 (P <0.05 ).Moreo-ver,Curc-OEG reduced the level of MOD and increased the lev-els of SOD and GSH.Conclusion Curc-OEG could more sig-nificantly protect the rat liver from CCl4-caused fibrogenesis by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect than curcumin.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of sling exercise therapy(S-E-T)combined with drug treatment for cervical vertigo in elderly patients.Methods Forty-nine elderly patients with cervical vertigo admitted to our hospital between January 2011 and July 2014 were randomly divided into an observation group(n=27)and a control group(n=22).The observation group was given 80 mg Ginaton(Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Tablets)produced by German Dr.Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co.KG three times a day,combined with S-E-T,including cervical stability and stretching training for 40min,focusing on the neck global muscle and local stabilize muscle rehabilitation,once every other day.The control group was provided with the same drug treatment.During the 6-month intervention,both groups were given health education by the same therapist.Both groups were assessed using the neck disability index(NDI),visual analogue scale(VAS)and evaluation scale for cervical vertigo(ESCV) before and after the intervention,as well as at the last follow-up visit.Before the treatment and at the last follow-up visit,the cervical X-ray examination and trigger point check were also conducted for both groups.Results All the forty-nine patients were followed up for 4.83 to 6.70 months,with an average of(6.01 ± 0.49)months.Significant improvement was observed in the average ESCV score for both groups after the treatment.Compared with before the treatment,there was significant improvement in the average NDI and VAS right after the treatment and at the last follow-up visit in the observation group,but only at the last follow-up visit in the control group.From the cervical X-ray,no significant differences were found in the vertebral osteophyte formation,facet joints and uncovertebral joint degeneration between the 2 groups(P＞0.05),while significant differences were observed in the number of the neck trigger points(P＜0.05).Conclusion The sling exercise therapy combined with drug treatment can significantly improve cervical function,relieve pain and vertigo symptoms in elderly patients with cervical vertigo.The effect is better than drug treatment alone.

AIM: To investigate chemical constituents of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. METHODS: Isolation and purification were carried out by column chromatographic methods. Compounds were characterized based on their physical characteristics and spectra data. RESULTS: Seventeen compounds were isolated from ethanol extract of S. suberectus. The structures were elucidated as prestegane B (1), (2R, 3R)-buteaspermanol (2), (+)-medioresinol (3), (2R, 3R)-3,7-dihydroxyflavanone (4), benzeneethanol (5), 4, 7, 2'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavanol (6), naringenin (7), blumenol A (8), protocatechuic acid ethyl ester (9), liquiritigenin (10), 7, 4'-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-isoflavone (11), 3, 5, 7, 3', 5'-pentahydroxyflavanone (12), protocatechuic acid (13), glycyroside (14), 8-methylretusin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (15), 3, 3', 4', 5, 6, 7, 8-heptahydroxyflavan (16), and dulcisflavan (17). CONCLUSION All compounds are firstly isolated from the title plant and compounds 1, 3 were isolated from the Spatholobus genus for the first time.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDChemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) was recently identified as a novel cytokine. The full-length CKLF1 cDNA contains 530 bp encoding 99 amino acid residues with a CC motif similar to that of other CC family chemokines. Recombinant CKLF1 exhibits chemotactic activity on leucocytes and stimulates proliferation of murine skeletal muscle cells. We questioned whether CKLF1 could be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and proliferation in the lung. Therefore we used efficient in vivo gene delivery method to investigate the biological effect of CKLF1 in the murine lung.

METHODSCKLF1-expressing plasmid, pCDI-CKLF1, was constructed and injected into the skeletal muscles followed by electroporation. Lung tissues were obtained at the end of week 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively after injection. The pathological changes in the lungs were observed by light microscope.

RESULTSA single intramuscular injection of CKLF1 plasmid DNA into BALB/c mice caused dramatic pathological changes in the lungs of treated mice. These changes included peribronchial leukocyte infiltration, epithelial shedding, collagen deposition, proliferation of bronchial smooth muscle cells and fibrosis of the lung.

CONCLUSIONSThe sustained morphological abnormalities of the bronchial and bronchiolar wall, the acute pneumonitis and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis induced by CKLF1 were similar to phenomena observed in chronic persistent asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome. These data suggest that CKLF1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of these important diseases and the study also implies that gene electro-transfer in vivo could serve as a valuable approach for evaluating the function of a novel gene in animals.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Cell Movement ; Chemokines ; genetics ; physiology ; Electroporation ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology